From traditional spooks to over-the-top gore, there's a scare out there for haunted house fans

Oct. 9, 2013

Written by

Joe Stych

Special to the Register

The countdown to the scariest night of the year has begun. Metro-area residents in search of spooks and scares have 21 nights to make the rounds of local haunted-house attractions.

These sites mysteriously appear each fall in warehouses, at local theme parks and along forest trails. With displays ranging from bloody gore to grin-inducing goosebumps, they’re sure to offer something for all the ghouls and goblins in your group.

Tormented Souls Haunt

As a newcomer to Iowa’s horror scene this year, the Tormented Souls Haunt aims to scare Halloween scream-seekers witless. Combining a 6,500-square-foot space with the lore of a real-life Iowa ghost town, Zook Spur might do the trick.

“It’s an old mining town that’s been abandoned for years,” said Kumari Henry, owner and operator of the haunt. “There are paranormal spirits in the area of all the people who have gone before.”

The haunt starts on a shuttle dubbed “the terror bus.” Other creepy attractions include two labyrinths, a haunted graveyard with animatronic elements and a reality-bending vortex.

She didn’t want to give too much away, but Henry left this teaser: “We have some very interesting optical illusions and a 12-foot surprise.”

Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park

This scary staple sets the stan­dard for Halloween haunts in Iowa. Events coordinator Mary Flatt says to expect some surprises this year. “People are definitely going to notice new things about the attractions,” she said.

This year’s haunt features a reworked version of their “Duty Calls: Zombie Apocalypse” laser tag, plus new scares in old favorites like Nightmare Estates, the Castle of Blood and Chaos.

Also back by popular demand is the Blazing Jack-O-Lanterns Hayrack Ride, a less-scary option for younger haunt-goers. “We try to be a well-rounded production,” Flatt said. “I think people enjoy going to one location and getting all this variety.”

Trail of Terror

Take a trip through this haunted forest if you dare. Families with younger kids will want to arrive early for the kids trail.

Details: 6:30-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19 and 25-26; the kids trail runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Scotch Ridge Center, Carlisle; on Iowa Highway 5 east of the U.S. Highway 65/69 bypass. $8; children ages 12 and under in costume get a $2 discount. 418-6069